Fluid property – resistance to relative layer motion The property of a liquid that offers resistance to the movement of one layer over another adjacent layer is called:

Introduction:
Several fluid properties influence different phenomena. This question seeks the term for internal friction that resists sliding motion between neighbouring fluid layers.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Layers experience relative motion under shear.
• Liquid is Newtonian for simplicity.
• External factors like temperature may affect property magnitude but not the definition.

Concept / Approach:
Viscosity quantifies resistance to deformation in shear. The higher the viscosity, the larger the shear stress required to maintain a given velocity gradient across layers.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Identify the phenomenon: resistance to sliding between layers.2) Recall the constitutive law τ = μ * (du/dy).3) The property μ (dynamic viscosity) is therefore the correct descriptor.

Verification / Alternative check:
Everyday comparison—water vs. honey—illustrates that higher μ liquids flow more slowly for the same driving head.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Surface tension governs interfaces, not bulk shear.
• Compressibility relates to volume change with pressure.
• Capillarity concerns surface tension/meniscus effects in small tubes.
• Elasticity describes solids or transient liquid compressibility, not steady shear resistance.

Common Pitfalls:
Mixing up ν (m^2/s) with μ (Pa·s); both increase resistance, but units and meaning differ.

Final Answer:
viscosity